tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33236386.post5498954646180622742..comments2023-11-14T09:15:59.661+00:00Comments on City Hall: Budget LatestRoger Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839182217428381247noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33236386.post-47372704168788100492011-01-12T10:52:02.059+00:002011-01-12T10:52:02.059+00:00Izzy wizzy, let's get busy: oh, no - hold on, ...Izzy wizzy, let's get busy: oh, no - hold on, that was Sooty, wasn't it?<br />I can't actually speak for 'The Left', whatever that may be, other than anyone with half a brain who objects to the breakneck speed with which we are hurtling to social and economic oblivion. I certainly do not sneer at financial services: as a matter of fact my own father was, ssh, not only a lifelong Tory, but spent his entire working life in the City, working his way from office boy to director of a large company at a time when such a position was otherwise exclusively held by public schoolboys with the right connections. I know that he would have been incensed by the irresponsible behaviour of much of the banking sector, and their self indulgent practice of putting self reward before the best interests of the economy.<br /> <br />Why must we reward the chief executives of subsidised banks with obscene amounts of money in bonuses? What is the moral difference between accepting public subsidy in benefits as a single parent or a greedy banking executive? It's only a matter of scale, isn't it? Why is it that ordinary, hardworking citizens are being asked to buy into to the Big Society/Pledge Bank nonsense and work for nothing to contribute to the community, yet the bankers who squander billions of our money in speculative ventures are not obliged to show any commitment to the wellbeing of our nation?<br /><br />As for bankers in Zurich with money to waste on first class tickets to Chicago, but pining for the O2 and a sight of Boris Johnson: serves them right for choosing to live in Switzerland, the dullest country in Europe,and whose prosperity and generous tax system was founded on an historical policy of politely avoiding moral or ethical questions of the origin of any investments.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33236386.post-13399172498015758812011-01-12T05:55:21.779+00:002011-01-12T05:55:21.779+00:00Mrs A, I always had a soft spot for lovely Debbie,...Mrs A, I always had a soft spot for lovely Debbie, so I will take the comparison as the compliment it was no doubt intended to be...<br /><br />Of course emergency services are vital and they need protecting - they also need modernising, and the dispute over shift patterns currently coming to a head has been rumbling on since Livingstone's days in 2005. On many occasions Labour members have actually voted in favour of the changes at LFEPA but they take care to keep quiet about it.<br /><br />As for banking, we do need some profitable sectors to pay for the public services that London needs. I don't see any alternatives being offered by people from The Left when they sneer at financial services.<br /><br />It isn't as if all the other cities are shunning the bankers, quite the opposite in fact. They would love to take a slice of our banking sector. Zurich may not be much fun at the weekend but with the tax your average banker saves by working there he can afford to fly first class to London if he wants to see Chicago, go to a concert at the O2 or watch Mayor's Question Time.Roger Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04839182217428381247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33236386.post-47074651061411993082011-01-12T00:32:34.916+00:002011-01-12T00:32:34.916+00:00If Biggs doesn't ride a bike then what are we ...If Biggs doesn't ride a bike then what are we predatory motorists to use for target practice?Redbridge residentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33236386.post-63778213047597286392011-01-11T23:40:04.306+00:002011-01-11T23:40:04.306+00:00In the self appointed capacity of spokesperson for...In the self appointed capacity of spokesperson for 'The Left' here, I feel I must point out that bankers are not uniquely important to the capital. Many jobs are of incalculable value to us: firefighters, for example - is Boris going to worry about their alternative source of employment and revenue if, as rumour has it, they are all sacked and forced to compete for a greatly reduced number of posts? Is Boris keen to protect our emergency services, and ensure that we can provide the highest standard of cover for Londoners? Or is it only the over privileged and irresponsible gamblers in the city who qualify for his sympathy?<br /><br />In regard to your comments about police numbers, may I point out that I know that here in Barnet police officers are already being abstracted from their usual work on a regular basis, and not for demonstrations but for ordinary duties. This practice is obviously going to have an detrimental impact on crime management in the outer boroughs.<br /><br />I rather think we Londoners are a little too sophisticated to be easily impressed by sleek rabbits, smoke and mirrors, Mr Evans ... but if Boris is Paul Daniels, does that make you the lovely Debbie McGee?(This comment is now highly unlikely to be published, I do realise!)Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.com